BY AUSTIN LYNCH

Throughout the month of June, a number of priests across the Diocese of Clogher are celebrating the anniversaries of their ordination to the priesthood.

June is a particularly special time for priests as this is the month that most ordinations take place. And in and around the Diocese this month, several priests are celebrating very special jubilees.

Two priests, Canon Gerald Timoney, PE Irvinestown and Canon Liam Gaffney, PE Derrylin are celebrating 60 years of ministry in the Church.

At the weekend before last, a special Mass was celebrated in Irvinestown for Canon Timoney, a native of Cleenish parish in Belcoo, who was ordained to the priesthood in Maynooth in 1947.

Talking about his ministry, Canon Timoney stated that after his ordination he went to New Zealand for five years before returning to Ireland in 1952-1953. Upon his return home, he spent six years in Ederney before moving to Irvinestown where he spent most of the 1960s.

After ministering in Derrygonnelly and Castleblayney, Canon Timoney was appointed Parish Priest of Galloon (Newtownbutler) in 1981 where he served up until his retirement eight years ago.

Asked if it seems like 60 years since he was ordained, the softly spoken priest said, "Not really , time has passed so quickly."

Canon Timoney did say that he has seen huge changes during his time in the priesthood - 'some good and some not so good'. "Everybody has to cope with what comes, they have to meet the challenges in front of them," he said.

Since he retired as Parish Priest, Canon Timoney has been assisting Father Michael McGourty, the current Parish Priest of Irvinestown, helping out with parish duties.

Also celebrating 60 years a priest is Canon Liam Gaffney, a native of Killeshandra, Co Cavan.

Canon Gaffney, a former Diocesan priest who served for many years in Derrylin, retired from parish duties eight years ago and for the past three months he has been a resident at the Graan Nursing Home in Enniskillen.

Canon Gaffney was also ordained in 1947 in Maynooth, after studying as there as a seminarian, and, after ordination he was appointed to a diocese in Edinburgh where he ministered for seven years.

Canon Gaffney returned to Ireland in 1953 and from then up until his retirement in 1999 he worked as a diocesan priest.

Fifty years ago this month, on the 23rd June 1957 to be exact, another well-known local priest was ordained to the priesthood.

Canon Patrick Lonergan, who has ministered in Garrison for close on forty years, is celebrating his Golden Jubilee this year.

Canon Lonergan was ordained in St Joseph's Church, Carrickmacross after spending seven years in Maynooth.

Canon Lonergan was stationed to Dromore, Co. Tyrone for two years before spending a year in Ederney. Following this he was moved to Garrison where he spent 17 years.

Canon Lonergan served in both Irvinestown and Newtownbutler before returning to Garrison in 1985 where he remains to this day.

Canon Lonergan served as Parish Priest in Garrison until be retired last year. He was made a Canon in 2002 and, since he retired in 2006 he now has the title PE - Pastoral Emaritus.

Talking about the past fifty years Canon Lonergan says that it has all gone 'very quickly' and he explains that Garrison - Belleek is a big parish but he looks after the Garrison end of it.

Canon Lonergan considers Fermanagh, and specifically Garrison to be the most beautiful corner of the country. "The best view in Ireland is from my house" he states.

On Monday night past there was a special mass in Mary Queen of Peace Church followed by a presentation to him in St. Mary's Hall.

Canon Macartan McQuaid, PP Clones, also celebrates an anniversary this month - it's 40 years since he was ordained to the priesthood.

Canon McQuaid was ordained in St. Macartan's in Monaghan by Bishop Eugene O'Callaghan in 1967. "It was a great occasion for myself and my family."

Canon McQuaid said that he recently attended a reunion with some of the priests he went to Maynooth with and he had great difficulty recognising them - 'they weren't the thin, young men I had remembered,' he recalls.

A native of Truagh Parish, Emyvale, Canon McQuaid spent most of his life as a priest in St. Michael's College in Enniskillen.

"I taught in the school for three years and then became Principal for 17 years, from 1978 to August 1996."

In 1994, after standing down as Principal, Canon McQuaid went to Monaghan as a curate where he became involved in 'Parish Development and Renewal'. For the past 10 years Canon McQuaid has been Parish Priest in Clones.

Talking about the difference between life in St Michael's and life in a parish, he says that parish life has more variety: "There is a lot of diversity in parish life - from baptisms through to marriages onto and including deaths. It is very challenging in its own way, as we try to promote the important aspects of the gospel."

Canon McQuaid said that people, today, need to get away from the emphasis on the individual. "We have lost a lot of the spirit of the community and the importance of family. The things that really count, when the crunch comes, are the people who are there for us. It's all about the people."

A Monaghan man, who has spent most of his life in Fermanagh, he wanted to express his gratitude to, 'the wonderful people of Fermanagh' for everything they have done for him.

Also celebrating the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood is Father Brendan Gallagher, a Curate in St. Michael's, Enniskillen.

A relative newcomer to the priesthood, Father Gallagher was ordained to the priesthood 25 years ago (in 1982) in his home parish of Bundoran.

Father Brendan was ordained by Bishop Joseph Duffy, and following his ordination he was stationed to St Macartan's College in Monaghan for one year before being appointed to St. Michael's College in Enniskillen.

After a move to Clones, Father Brendan moved back to Enniskillen where he has served as a Curate for the last eight years.

Father Gallagher celebrated his Silver Jubilee with a special Mass in St Michael's Church last Wednesday, and there followed a reception in Mount Lourdes Grammar School, where Father Brendan is school chaplain.

Father Brendan comes from a family of 10 siblings and, along with his mother, Margaret Gallagher he also celebrated his jubilee in Bundoran, with his family for company.

Other priests who are celebrating their jubilees around this time include Father Patrick Marron, Fintona - Golden Jubilee, Father Fintan McKiernan, Derrylin who celebrates 40 years and Father Gabriel Dolan who celebrates 25 years in the priesthood.